Page 18 of To Fight and To Fold

“Oh,” she said simply, because that is the only word that came to mind.

Silence fell between them, its crater filled only with the awkwardness of speaking to royalty.

“Well,” he finally said, and stood straighter, stepping back exactly once. “I shall see myself out. Thank you for your cooperation, and I will make it a priority to find you after I speak to the king myself.”

Warmth rose to bloom in her cheeks once more. “Thank you, Prince, for your kindness.”

He paused by the set of guards. “I’m leaving one of them here, for your own safety,” he said.

“If you feel it’s necessary,” she offered, brow furrowed.

“On the morrow, Tethered.”

Once he was gone, she met the eyes of the guard left behind. “Thank you for watching over me,” she said.

Striking feminine teal eyes met hers. “Of course, Tethered Aaryn. It is my pleasure.”

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Runa of the Second Guard."

Second Guard. Had Runa known Thea? Did she know anything about the investigation thus far?

It would be rude to ask, surely. Right?

"Nice to meet you," Aaryn said, and then paused. Aaryn had never had a guard before. Did she offer them water? A snack? A bound book to pass the time with?

The guard offered her a smile, and her striking teal eyes were kind. “You can close the door. I'll be here, should you need any assistance.”

“A-alright. Thank you,” Aaryn said, and returned her smile, albeit awkwardly, before doing as she'd been told and closing the door.

Once she was alone, Aaryn slumped against said door, and took a deep breath for the first time in hours.

Aaryn stripped off her layers one by one, feeling more free with every bit of weight removed.

She bathed herself quickly and practically, her mind so full of thoughts it might as well have been empty, for she couldn’t focus on any particular trail before it would find another to scurry down.

The result was to faceplant into bed, wishing for the darkness of sleep simply so she could find a moment of peace.

But sleep evaded her, and she stared toward the ceiling with tired eyes but a racing mind.

Thea had taken Starspark from her.

Why?

Had Thea seen her as an easy mark? Someone to be taken advantage of? Someone to betray so easily?

She felt the sneer on her face as she turned over to stare at the moon casting light in her room.

Aaryn would not curl into a ball and cry over what she had lost.

If she started, she might not stop.

Instead, she’d dedicate every waking moment to the one who deserved it: Starspark.

If that meant she had to find Thea to do such a thing…

Well.